Stop Handgun Violence Response to Mass Shooting In Philadelphia, PA:

On the heels of shootings in Gilroy, CA, El Paso, TX and Dayton, OH six police officers were ambushed and shot last night in an apparent attempt to serve a warrant in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania does not restrict the sales or possession of assault weapons and high capacity ammunition magazines and does not require background checks for all gun sales.  In addition, there is no limit on the number of firearms that can be purchased at one time and no waiting period.

“This morning, as the details of this shooting continue to emerge, our hearts and thoughts are with victims of this attack and the Philadelphia law enforcement community” said Frederick Ryan, retired police chief and board member of Stop Handgun Violence. “It is simply unimaginable that law enforcement is given 13-17 rounds in their service weapons and yet the federal government allows untrained civilians to buy 35-100 round magazines and military style assault weapons. It’s time for Congress and the White House to take action to prevent private citizens from having more firing power than police by banning high capacity magazines sales now.”

“Hunters require a hunting license which limits them to 3 rounds for ducks and 5 rounds for deer in order to protect those animal populations” said John Rosenthal, founder of Stop Handgun Violence. “Police officers and our families deserve the same protections. It’s time for Congress and the White House to pass comprehensive gun violence legislation that includes background checks for all gun sales and a ban on high capacity magazines and assault weapons. These laws have proven to be effective in the states that have them.”

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Stop Handgun Violence(SHV) is a Massachusetts based non-profit organization committed to the prevention of gun violence through education, public awareness, effective law enforcement and common sense gun laws. SHV has been the lead advocate in Massachusetts for enactment of the most effective gun violence prevention laws and first in the nation consumer protection regulations. The organization does not seek to restrict Constitutional rights, but advocates only for common sense legislation that will help save lives. For more information, go to www.stophandgunviolence.org

This afternoon, news of another mass shooting broke. According to the Gun Violence Archive this is the 8^thshooting with ten or more victims this year and the 249^thmass shooting in 2019.  The details of this horrific incident are continuing to emerge, but several reports have indicated that as many as twenty were murdered and dozens injured in the attack.

In Texas, no criminal background check is required for private gun sales including for assault weapons and high capacity ammunition magazines.  In addition, there is no limit on the number of firearms that can be purchased at one time and gun owners are not required to have a license, register their firearms or report lost and stolen firearms.

Texas did not pass meaningful gun laws in the wake of the Sutherland Springs Church shooting in 2017 or the Santa Fe School shooting in 2018 and just this year the Governor signed ten bills into law that were NRA-supported legislation.

“While the details of this horrific massacre continue to emerge, our hearts and thoughts are with victims of this attack and the El Paso community” said John Rosenthal, founder and chairman of Stop Handgun Violence. “While the shooter’s motives are still unclear, one thing is blatantly obvious: The time for action is now. The gun lobby’s unconscionable priority of guns over lives has disastrous consequences. Over 90 Americans die each day due to gun violence and the unrestricted access to firearms in this country is a dangerous policy with dangerous consequences.”

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